We arrived at Heysham in driving rain and strong winds, but fortunately these were forecast to abate overnight. The land-based staff of CLdN were very helpful and transferred us to the Pace soon after we checked in, and once onboard we were offered food and drink which was much appreciated, before we retired to our cabins ahead of a full day’s surveying.
Following an excellent breakfast, we were on the bridge by 07.15 and were soon recording expected seabirds including Gannet, Guillemot, Razorbill, Manx Shearwater, Fulmar, and Kittiwake. A couple of migrating Swallow were seen well offshore. As we neared Dublin a couple of Harbour Porpoise surfaced, which was a bit of a bonus in the windy conditions, while a few Mediterranean Gull were seen as we approached the harbour, together with Dublin's regular Grey Seal.
Following a substantial lunch, we joined the bridge again as the Pace left the outer harbour, and this was ideal timing as Mediterranean Gull were even more conspicuous than on the inward leg, with over 40 birds seen including 25 in a mixed feeding flock of gulls. There was another Harbour Porpoise seen in calmer conditions, and several Fulmar attracted to a deceased seal pup.
We stopped surveying as the light went at around 7.30pm, and Stephen took advantage of the unique perspective on the illuminations as we sailed past his hometown of Blackpool. It was again bucketing down when we entered Heysham Harbour so we were appreciative of the lift back to our cars after another successful MARINElife survey of this enjoyable route.
Stephen Dunstan and Dave Shackleton, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather Conditions
Outward leg: Wind force 5
Return leg: Wind force 3-4
Marine Mammals
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1
Seabirds
Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 4
Gannet Morus bassanus 28
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 23
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 24
Guillemot Uria aalge 136
Razorbill Alca torda 27
Auk sp. 17
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 12
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 32
Common Gull Larus canus 20
Mediterranean Gull Ichthyaetus melanocephalus 47
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 1
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 65
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 1
Terrestrial Birds
Swallow Hirundo rustica 3
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